Invasive Mosquito Alert

New mosquitoes in Southern California

Global travel and trade have opened doors to invasive mosquitoes. Three new species making Southern California their home are the Asian tiger (Aedes albopictus), yellow fever (Aedes aegypti), and Austalian backyard (Aedes notoscriptus) mosquitoes. These mosquitoes adapt very well to urban environments. Once introduced, they can thrive in our neighborhoods.

How are they threats?

Disease carriers — The Asian tiger mosquito and yellow fever mosquito have the potential to transmit debilitating viruses such as dengue, yellow fever, zika virus and the painful chikungunya virus. These diseases have not been transmitted locally. However, if a person with the virus spends time in an area where these mosquitoes are found, there is an increased chance of an outbreak occurring in Los Angeles County. Currently, many cities across the country are reporting many chikungunya cases from travelers coming back to the U.S. from Mexico, the Caribbean, and Latin America. The Australian backyard mosquito is a concern for the veterinary community since it can transmit canine heartworm.

They can bite during the day — These bloodsuckers can ruin a family get-together or a warm day at a park. Normally, we expect mosquitoes to bite from dusk to dawn – not so with these invasive mosquitoes.

They can lay eggs in small containers and thrive indoors — Do you have an old tire in your yard? Or maybe some plant cuttings in a bucket of water in your kitchen? These mosquitoes can lay their eggs in stagnant water sources as small as a bottle cap! There have been reports in Los Angeles County of these mosquitoes biting people inside offices and homes.

Click here to learn how to eliminate mosquitoes in your yard and home.